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The first night at the Gardens was about promise

Captian Hap Day predicted a Stanley Cup in the fall of 1931, and the Maple Leafs delivered.

The Maple Leafs lost the first game at Maple Leaf Gardens (Nov. 12, 1931), a 2-1 decision to the Chicago Black Hawks. (Imperial Oil Turofsky Collection)

By Kevin SheaSpecial to the Star

Sat., Oct. 15, 2016

As part of the Leafs centennial season, The Star is taking a look at significant moments in the franchise’s history. This is the second installment in the series, which is written by hockey historian Kevin Shea.

Through the history of Toronto teams in the NHL, a celebrated collection of personalities has walked the blue carpet to centre ice to perform the ceremonial faceoff, including governors general, politicians, war heroes, Olympic champions, an astronaut (who dropped the puck from outer space) and esteemed alumni.

One of the most memorable home openers took place on November 12, 1931, when Leafs Nation was introduced to the team in the newly built Maple Leaf Gardens, erected in a remarkable five-month span during the depths of the Depression. With an event of such magnitude, security was tight. Conn Smythe, who led the consortium that purchased the team in February 1927, proudly walked amongst the crowds waiting to enter the building, but when a police officer suspected that he was butting his way into line, Smythe was angrily escorted from the premises until his identity could be established.

Smythe could hardly have been too upset when he learned that a crowd of 13,233 — the largest number of fans ever to attend a hockey game to that point — shoehorned themselves into the new arena. Spectators paid anywhere from 95 cents for general admission to $2.75 for the best seats to watch their team face the visiting Chicago Black Hawks in that season’s inaugural contest.

The excitement surrounding the opening of the Gardens was infectious. Although the early 1930s had been a time of despair, it was a song of hope — Happy Days are Here Again — that carried the day. With that song, Pipe Major James Fraser and the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums commenced precisely at 8:30 p.m. to indicate the start of the opening ceremony.

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J.P. Bickell proceeded with a lengthy speech that drew catcalls from the crowd. The Toronto Daily Star needled the team president, saying, “Jack Bickell . . . fine-looking fellow, isn’t he? Nice talker, too. Why don’t he shut up and let’s get on with the game? The crowd don’t like him.”

Ontario Premier George Henry kept his comments brief, but still earned the wrath of fans who “made it pretty clear that they had come to see a hockey game and didn’t care much about speeches.”

Then, Toronto Mayor William J. Stewart spoke and presented the members of the Maple Leafs with floral horseshoes on behalf of the city. Black Hawks captain Cy Wentworth, representing his team, wished the fans well. Much to the delight of those in attendance, the next speaker, Toronto captain Hap Day, boldly predicted that the Maple Leafs would win the Stanley Cup.

Mayor Stewart dropped the ceremonial first puck between Toronto’s Red Horner and Chicago’s Mush March. On February 13, 1999, sixty-five years later, both Horner and March would repeat the feat for the ceremonial face-off that preceded the final NHL game played at Maple Leaf Gardens. For now though, with the pomp and circumstance dispensed, the teams got down to business.

Those who couldn’t get a ticket could listen to the game on radio. CFCA had been broadcasting Leafs games since the 1929-30 season, and carried the first game of the season in its entirety, including the opening ceremony, while CKGW, broadcasting out of the King Edward Hotel, picked up the game at 9 p.m.

While the unveiling of the brand new arena may have been something to behold, the game itself was not. Toronto’s only goal came courtesy of Charlie Conacher, “The Big Bomber,” and the game ended in a 2-1 loss to Chicago.

While the Leafs lost the game, the unveiling was certainly victorious. The majesty of the building elevated the imagination of those who called Toronto home. And holding true to the promise of captain Hap Day, the Leafs did go on to win the Stanley Cup that season.

Kevin Shea is a hockey historian and author of “The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication, 1917-2017.” His column will appear every other week throughout the Leafs’ centennial season. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinsheahockey.

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